Legislator to act in ‘Vagina Monologues’

Staff writer, with CNA

Former Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Huang Sue-ying (黃淑英) will be among the 10 women to perform in the Vagina Monologues presentation in Taipei this year to raise awareness of global efforts to stop violence against women.

It is the sixth year Taiwan has joined the “V-Day” movement to end violence against women, said Lee Li-fen (李麗芬), secretary-general of End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes, Taiwan.

This year, 10 percent of the funds will go toward female victims of sexual violence in Haiti, and the rest will be used to support victims in Taiwan, said Lee, whose group is one of the organizers and beneficiaries of the fundraiser.

Huang, founding chairwoman of Taiwan Women’s Link, said it would be her first time acting in a play and a great challenge.

“Violence against women is an ongoing problem and I hope my performance will help bring greater attention to these issues,” said Huang, whose group is also one of the organizers and beneficiaries of the event.

Huang plays a woman angry at society’s expectations and treatment of the female sex organs.

She said she has been practicing very hard over the past month, but her biggest fear is forgetting her lines.

“It has been a very big challenge for me because even though I was fierce in the Legislative Yuan, I get stage fright whenever I perform,” the 61-year-old ex-legislator said.

Huang said she has invited her mother, who is in her 90s, as well as former colleagues in the legislature to attend the performances.

On the question of whether her latest venture was more difficult than questioning officials in the legislature, Huang said “it is more difficult to perform in a play.”

“There are no interactions during a monologue. You have to remember the lines from the beginning to the end,” she said, adding that lawmakers can always look at their notes when they are speaking.